Fluid introducing means for washer baskets



Dec. 23, 1958 A. G. KLING ET AL FLUID INTRODUCING MEANS FOR WASHER BASKETS Filed June 14, 1956 llllll u| v u I a u z.

NV N TOR6' a 2 a I n O H c 3 o a .2 o l a e 0 a n o L O .u o n a o a o 0 0 0 0 n 0 0 0 0 0 e o o o o o e 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 a 0 0 0 I a FLUID rNTRonUciNG MEANS Eon WASHER BASKETS Alfred G. Kling and warrant Kellerman, Chicago, in, .assigno'rsto Kling 100 Corporation, Franklin Park,

-Ill., a corporation of Illinois 7 Application June 14, 1956, Serial No. 591,355

8 Clainis. (Cl. 68-207) 2 This invention relates to improvements in fluid introducing means for washer baskets.

In apparatus for dry cleaning and like uses'it is desirable that the rotatable basket be supported on a solid shaft. It is also desirable to introduce cleaning solvents .and other fluids into the center of the drum. Heretofore it has been common practice to introduce fluid into a hollow perforated shaft to be discharged therefrom as the basket rotates. With the present invention a novel method of introducing fluids effectively into the center of the basket has been provided, while permitting the use of a solid shaft.

It is a-general object of the present invention to provideimproved means for introducing fluids along a solid shaft which is supporting a washer basket, the said means providing for effective distribution of the fluid throughout the length of the shaft so that it is discharged throughout the depth of the basket.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device as above described which includes spacing members in the form of fluid distributing vanes at one end of the basket, together with means for introducing fluid adjacent said vanes, the latter sweeping the fluid longitudinally of the shaft as the basket rotates.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described which includes longitudinal ribs on the portion of the shaft within the basket, with the vanes arranged to sweep fluid into the longitudinal spaces between ribs.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described wherein there is a channel on' the inner side of i an end wall of the basket housing, which channel is positioned to direct fluids to the distributing vanes.

Afurther object of the invention is to provide a guard cone for minimizing the loss of fluid through the end bearing of the casing, together with means for draining fluid fromthe interior of said cone to the bottom of the casing.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a construction as above described which is relatively simple, inexpensive to manufacture, foolproof, and well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and. other objects in view, the invention "consists of the improved fluid introducing means for washer baskets, and all of its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating 'one 'complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention,

in which the same reference numerals designatethe same parts in all the views:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a washer, part being broken away and shown in vertical I States atent 2,865,188 Patented Dec. 23, 19,58

Fthrough' one'of'fthe vanes alone, showing a portion of a rib yconnecteditheretoiand taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Figi's is .a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the fluid receiving casing at one end of the shaft; and

Fig. 6.is .ahorizontal sectional view looking down on the lower portion'of the casing of Fig. 5.

Referringmore particularly to the drawings, the numeralltl designatesa fixed casing for a garment-washing .device, such as a dry cleaning machine, said casing having a rear end wallrll, having aperipheral wall 12, and a frontlwall' 12'. Journaled transversely of the casing is a solid shaft 13. The rear. end of said shaft is supported for rotation ina bearing 14 inthe end wall of the casing 11.

'Secured to the inner side of the wall 11 is a frusto-conical guard '15, there being a small annular space 16 between the inner margin of the guard and the shaft 13, as is clear from Figs. 5 and 6. Projecting downwardly from the low'er'portion of the guard 15 and communicating with a hole 17in thebotto m thereof is a drain channellfi. Fluid 20' which'rnayentergthe annular space 16 will find its way into the opening 17. Surrounding the guard 15 is a cylindrical fluid receiving chamber 20 having a bottom open- .ing 19*with"which the lower end of the drain channel 18 communicates.

fluid introducing channel 21 which is secured to the "innernside of the end'll of the casing leads into the top o'f'the cylindrical chamber 20, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. lnlet=pipes '22 'and23 leading from suitable sources of .supply conduct fluids to the'interior of the channel 21. EIn the case of a-dry cleaning machine at least one of these 'fluidszmay'be' a dry cleaning solvent liquid.

Theshaft'13rhas four longitudinal ribs 24, 25, 26 and '27 which are integral therewith, there being axial channels between ribs.

The forward ends of these ribs terminate at ahead collar 28. The opposite ends of these ribs merge into spacing members 29 which are of greater heightthan the ribs. Each spacing member is in the form of. a vane-with an inclined side 30 and a curved side 31 .as shown in Fig. 4, which sides meet at a point 32 near the fluid'receivin'g chamber 20. A cylindrical end member 33fits in an .opening in the end wall of a'basket 36 and'is 'secnred to the outerportions of the vanes, which maintain the member 33 in spaced position from the shaft .while iconnected thereto. fi'has an integral externally projecting flange 34 which is bolted. as at 35 to said end of the basket 36, which basket The cylindrical end member has a perforated peripheral'wall. The other end of'the basket is secured to the shaft collar 28. The cylindrical lend member has an annular lip 37 outside of the basket which projects beyond the flange to overlap the fluid 'receivingicylinder 20, as shown in Fig. l.

"Extending axially of the basket around the shaft 13,

:and "having its ends supported on the cylindrical end member '33 and on the flange 28 is a perforated cylin- 5 drical housing 38. The diameter of the housing 38 is such as to leave a space between its interior and the outer portions ofthe ribs 2427. There may also be a perforated partition 39 dividing the cylindrical basket into two: parts.

Operation *In use of the improved apparatus, the shaft 13 is driven-through any suitable means to rotate the basket '36 withinthe casing '10, garments having been inserted through'a suitable loading opening (not shown). Suitable cleaning fluids such as a solvent liquid may be in troduced through one or both of the inlet pipes 22-23 to flow bygravity down the channel 21 which empties into :the cylindrical fluid receiving chamber 26. The frustoconical guard 15 directs the fluid toward the vanes 29.

Withthe basket rotating in the direction indicatedin Figs. 2 and 3 the fluid .will be acted uponby the inclined sides :30 of the vanes '29., which sides will sweepthe fluid into the axial channels between the shaft ribs 24, 25, 26 and 27. This action will be sufficiently violent to propel fluid the full length of the shaft so that fluid will be thrown centrifugally out of the openings in the cylindrical housing 38 throughout the length of the latter to provide for good distribution of the solvent throughout the depth of the basket. Any minor amount of fluid which leaks out through the annular space between the casing 20 and annular lip 37 will fall into the bottom of the casing with other liquid. Also any liquid which works into the annular space 16 between the shaft and frusto-conical guard 15 will pass out of the drain channel 18 and opening 19 and fall into the bottom of the casing.

It is apparent from the above that a very simple construction has been provided which permits the use 'of a strong, solid basket-supporting shaft and which still provides for effective distribution of solvent throughout the length of the shaft so that the solvent is discharged centrifugally from holes throughout the length of the perforated housing 38.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated as may come within the scope of the claims.

What we claim is:

t. In a garment handling device having a rotatable garment basket provided with first and second end walls, a rotatable supporting shaft extending axially of said basket and having ends projecting from the end walls thereof, said first end wall having an opening of greater diameter than the shaft, a cylindrical end member having open ends and being secured within said first opening of said end wall, a plurality of spacing members connecting said shaft with the interior of said cylindrical end member, there being passages which extend generally longitudinally of the shaft between said spacing members which members are angled in a direction to move fluid into the basket when the latter is rotated, circumferentially spaced axial ribs projecting from said shaft and providing fluid channels therebetween which are in communication with said passages, a perforated housing extending axially within the basket surrounding the shaft and its ribs, said second end wall being closed around the shaft and closing the other end of said housing, and means ineluding a stationary cylindrical collar surrounding said shaft and having a rotating fit with an open end of said end member for conducting fluid from outside the basket into said passages and channels to be discharged from the perforations of said perforated housing into the basket while the latter is rotating with said shaft.

2. In a garment handling device having a garment basket provided with first and second end walls, a rotatable supporting shaft extending axially of said basket and having ends projecting from the end walls thereof, said first end wall having an opening of greater diameter than the shaft, a cylindrical end member having open ends and secured within said opening of said first end wall to rotate with the basket, a plurality of spacing members connecting said shaft with the interior of said cylindrical end member to also rotate with the basket, which spacing members are in the form of vanes, there being passages which extend generally longitudinally of the shaft between said vanes and which lead from the exterior of the basket to the interior thereof, and means for conducting fluid from outside the basket into said passages, each vane having a side so angled with respect to the direction of rotation of the basket as to sweep the fluid into the basket as a result of rotation of the basket.

3. In a garment handling device having a garment basket provided with first and second end Walls, a rotatable supporting shaft extending axially of said basket and having ends projecting from the end walls thereof, said first end wall having an opening of greater diameter than the shaft, a cylindrical end member having open ends and being secured within said opening of said end wall, a plurality of spacing members connecting said shaft with the interior of said cylindrical end member, which spacing members are in the form of angled vanes, there being passages which extend generally longitudinally of the shaft between said vanes and which lead from the exterior of the basket to the interior thereof with the angles of the vanes such as to move fluid into the basket when the latter is rotated, circumferentially spaced axial ribs projecting from said shaft and providing fluid channels therebetween which are in communication with said passages, a perforated housing extending axially within the basket surrounding the shaft and its ribs, said second end wall being closed around the shaft and closing the other end of said housing, and means including a stationary cylindrical collar surrounding said shaft and having a rotating fit with an open end of said end member for conducting fluid from outside the basket into said passages, each vane having a side so angled with respect to the direction of rotation of the basket as to sweep the fluid into said channels between ribs to be discharged from the perforations of said perforated housing into the basket while the latter is rotating with the shaft.

4. In a garment handling device having a fixed casing and having a garment basket within said casing provided with end walls, a rotatable basket supporting shaft to which the basket is fixed for rotation therewith journaled through said casing and extending axially of the basket, there being a shaft bearing in a wall of said casing, a fluid receiving cylinder fixed to the inner side of said wall and surrounding said shaft adjacent said bearing and having an open end facing a first end of the basket, means adjacent said casing wall for conducting fluid from an outside source to the interior of said fluid receiving cylinder, said first end wall of the basket having an opening of greater diameter than the shaft and the other end of said casing being closed around said shaft, a cylindrical end member secured within said opening of said end wall of the basket and having an annular lip projecting exteriorly of the basket and in relatively overlapping relationship with said open end of said fluid receiving cylinder, and a plurality of angled spacing members connecting the shaft with the interior of said cylindrical end member, there being passages which extend generally longitudinally through said cylindrical end member to the interior'of the basket and which are angled in a direction to cause fluid from the fluid receiving cylinder to be pulled into the interior of the basket while the latter and shaft are rotating. l

5. In a garment handling device having a fixed casing and having a garment basket within said casing provided with end walls, a rotatable basket supporting shaft journaled through said casing and extending axially of the basket, there being a shaft bearing in a wall of said casing, a frusto-conical guard on the inner side of said wall surrounding the shaft and angled toward the shaft and basket, a fluid receiving cylinder fixed to the inner side of said wall and surrounding said shaft and guard adjacent said bearing and having an open end facing the basket, drain means extending from said guard through the bottom of said fluid receiving cylinder to drain into the casing liquid which has escaped into the guard along the shaft, means for conducting fluid from an outside source against the guard to the interior of said fluid receiving cylinder, the adjacent end wall of the basket having an opening of greater diameter than the shaft, a cylindrical end member secured within said opening of said end wall of the basket and having an annular lip projecting exteriorly of the basket and in overlapping relationship with the open end of said fluid receiving cylinder, a plurality of spacing members in the form of liquid moving vanes connecting the shaft with the interior of said cylindrical end member, there being passages which extend generally longitudinally through said cylindrical end member to the interior of the basket through which liquid :from the fluid receiving cylinder is directed into uemva 14...: e

the interior of the basket while the latter and shaft are rotating.

6. In a garment handling device having a fixed casing and having a garment basket within said casing provided with end walls, a rotatable basket supporting shaft journaled through said casing and extending axially of the basket, there being a shaft bearing in a wall of said casing, a fluid receiving cylinder fixed to the inner side of said wall and surrounding said shaft adjacent said bearing and having an open end facing the basket, means for conducting fluid from an outside source to the in terior of saidfluid receiving cylinder, the adjacent end wall of the basket having an opening of greater diameter than the shaft and the opposite end wall of the basket being closed, a perforated cylindrical housing in the basket surrounding said shaft and having one end communicating with the opening in the end wall of the basket, a cylindrical end member secured within said opening of said end wall of the basket and having an annular lip projecting exteriorly of the basket and in relatively overlapping relationship with the open end of said fluid receiving cylinder, a plurality of spacing members connecting said shaft with the interior of said cylindrical end member, which spacing members are in the form of vanes, there being passages which extend generally longitudinally of the shaft between said vanes, circumferentially spaced axial ribs projecting from said shaft and providing fluid channels therebetween which are in communication with said passages between vanes, each vane having a side so angled with respect to the direction of-rotation of the basket as to sweep fluid from the fluid receiving cylinder into said channels between ribs to be discharged from the perforations of said perforated housing into the basket as a result of rotation of the basket.

7. In a garment handling device having a fixed casing and having a garment basket within said casing provided with end walls, a rotatable basket supporting shaft journaled through said casing and extending axially of the basket, there being a shaft bearing in a wall of said casing and there being a space between said wall and the basket, a fluid receiving cylinder fixed to the inner side of said wall in said space and surrounding said shaft adjacent said bearing and having an open end facing the basket, there being an annular space surrounding said shaft within said cylinder, means for conducting fluid from an outside source into said annular space in the interior of said fluid receiving cylinder, the adjacent end wall of the basket having an opening of greater diameter than the shaft and the opposite end wall of the basket being closed, a perforated cylindrical housing in the basket surrounding said shaft and providing a fluid space between it and said shaft and having one end communicating with the opening in the end wall of the basket, a cylindrical end member secured within said opening of said end wall of the basket and having an annular lip projecting exteriorly of the basket and in relatively overlapping relationship with the open end of said fluid receiving cylinder, a plurality of spacing members connecting said shaft with the interior of said cylindrical end member, there being passages which extend generally longitudinally of the shaft between said spacing members, and circumferentially spaced axial ribs projecting from said shaft within said basket and providing fluid channels therebetween which are in communication with said passages between spacing members.

8. In a garment handling device having a fixed casing and having a garment basket within said casing provided with end walls, a solid rotatable basket supporting shaft journaled through said casing and extending axially of the basket, there being a shaft bearing in a wall of said casing, and there being a space between said wall and the basket, a fluid receiving cylinder fixed to the inner side of said wall in said space and surrounding said shaft adjacent said bearing and having an open end facing the basket, there being an annular space surrounding said shaft within said cylinder, means for conducting fluid from an outside source into said annular space in the interior of said fluid receiving cylinder, the adjacent end wall of the basket having an opening of greater diameter than said shaft, a perforated cylindrical housing in the basket surrounding said shaft and providing a fiuid space between it and said shaft and having an end communicating with the opening in the end wall of the basket, a cylindrical end member secured within said opening of said end wall of the basket and having an annular lip projecting exteriorly of the basket and in relatively overlapping relationship with the open end of said fluid receiving cylinder, and a plurality of spacing members connecting said shaft with the interior of said cylindrical end member, there being passages which extend generally longitudinally of the shaft between said spacing members to admit fluid from the fluid receiving cylinder into the perforated cylindrical housing in the basket in the space around said solid shaft while the basket is rotating.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,010,637 Kirscheis Dec. 5, 1911 1,060,954 Skitt May 6, 1913 1,129,128 Shainline Feb. 23, 1915 1,492,916 Allsop May 6, 1924 2,243,325 Windell May 27, 1941 2,549,274 Winborn Apr. 17, 1951 

